Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes? (open thread!)

[Metarie]

what would have happened if ...

Ree wiped her mouth and stared at herself in the mirror. The queasy feeling hadn't really passed, but the sudden purge did seem to make it better.

She knew without a doubt what was going on. It'd been four moons since Lucien had left. A wry, self-deprecating smile curved her lips. This would definitely be fodder for the gossip papers. Ree had never dated anyone and her parents had died before arranging a marriage for her. Or, so she had assumed, because no one had come forward with that claim. Many would wonder who the father might be. But, only she and a few others knew and she could trust them to mind their own business.

Not that it mattered to Ree. This was her child and she would have it and raise it, even if it meant leaving the only home she had ever known.

[Eltana Remathia]

"Now, I consider myself a fair and generous man. But, my dear friend, my patience does have its limits. Do you enjoy disappointing me? Do you dislike me? I like to think that I've been a good friend to you these past few months. I can't imagine what I might have done that would move you to offend me this way."

Eltana frowned at the young woman standing before him, his arms folded against his stomach. The girl was an assistant to one of Marn's apothecaries, and had been "convinced" to provide him with some questionable herbs for his private business ventures. Predicably, she caught wind about why he wanted the herbs and had a crisis of conscience, as many of his associates often did. He had hoped to find more reliable people in Marn, but they seemed to be made of weaker stuff than the whelps in Belleza.

The girl backed away from him, her eyes on the incredibly handsome, yet threatening male behind the fashion designer -- one of the many models he employed as bodyguards. "I-I'm sorry," she stuttered. "I just can't do this anymore. What you're doing to people is..."

"Reprehensible?" Eltana smiled. "Believe me, I've heard it all before. Business is business, my dear; if you want to become something more than an assistant one day, I suggest you remember that. And you should look into some new outfits. Losing a little weight wouldn't hurt, either. Don't you agree, Jameson?"

"Yes, sir," the model said with a nod. "About twenty pounds, sir."

Eltana lowered himself onto a nearby bench and crossed his legs. "Now, I think you should have a seat with me and we can talk this all out like responsible adults. You know you can't afford to break this little arrangement of ours, my dear. If you stop helping me, then why should I fulfill my end of the bargain? Out of the kindness of my heart?"

Jameson laughed. "Got a heart as black as coal, sir!"

[Metarie]

After cleaning up and washing her face with a cool washcloth, she was ready to go to the market.

Her garden was good for many things, but some things just had to be purchased. There was no avoiding it. Today was a day off, thankfully. And so, Ree dressed in everyday wear instead of work wear. Slim fitting pants hugged, but not too tightly. A tunic of flowing material was snug across her chest, but gracefully brushed against her hips. A silken scarf encircled her neck and a light jacket was thrown over her arm, just in case.

Shopping bag on hand, Ree stepped out into a day that wasn't too cold, but not particularly warm either. The night would definitely be chilly enough for a fire. Sunlight tried to peek through the common cloud cover that swept across the sky. When it did, everything seemed to gleam in dazzling gold for just a moment.

Ree paused, eyes closed, soaking in the sun for that brief moment, before opening her eyes and stepping through the gate.

Not far in the distance, a woman appeared to be in conversation with two other men. One seated on a park bench. Others moved here and there about their business. As she moved toward the trio, Ree tried to keep to herself, but the second man's comment was attention grabbing. Were they talking about the Old One so openly?

Ree slid a glance at the trio, wondering.

[Eltana Remathia]

Eltana patted the space beside him, and the young woman, knowing it would be foolish to cross him, hesitantly took a seat. Ever since he expanded his business to more shadowy affairs, he became used to encountering resistance from various associates. Some merely wanted more bishani for their services, while others like this girl would feel guilty and want out. Either way, it was best to deal with their insubordination quickly and decisively. She would fulfill her obligations or suffer the consequences.

"Now, I know your grandfather isn't in the best of condition. It's so painful to watch loved ones die, isn't it? You feel helpless, lost, useless. While I'm sure you're quite used to that by now, my dear, it's still difficult to deal with. Without my loans, how would you hope to afford his medication?"

The girl looked down at her feet, remaining silent.

"That's what I thought," he said with a grin. "Instead of living out his remaining day in peace, he'll slowly waste away in his bed, unable to sleep because of the pain. He'll wonder why his precious granddaughter doesn't love him enough to help him in his old age. And when death finally comes, he'll die a broken and miserable shell. Is that what you want?"

His smile widened at her tears. "I'm glad you see my point. You should..." He paused when he noticed a woman moving toward them. Giving her an exaggerated wave, he mouthed "bye" before returning his attention to the young woman.

[Metarie]

As Ree's gaze slid toward the trio, the man seated on the bench waved at her as if to say, "go away." The mouthed "bye." was another indication that he didn't want a good citizen interfering.

This, of course, meant Ree would stop - if only because the girl looked upset and was crying. Wasn't it her duty to care for the populace of Marn? Granted, she wasn't a guardsman, but here in Central Marn, close to the Justice Hall and Omenbryn, criminal activities were very rarely done in plain sight. Meaning it was probably nothing more than a break-up. Those did happen here...

Ignoring the man and his friend, Ree paused to look at the girl. Good citizens should care for one another, shouldn't they?

"Are you alright?"

[Eltana Remathia]

Wonderful. Another concerned citizen -- or rather, busybody -- sticking her nose where it didn't belong.

"Thank you for your concern, but she's doing just fine," Eltana answered her icily before his victim could speak up. He knew that confronting her in public would be a bad idea, but the girl had gone out of her way to avoid him for the past week. She'd gone so far as to call in sick from work and hide out with a family friend. Fortunately for him, one of his contacts tipped him off on her weekly market visit. A quick confrontation seemed like the best bet, but in retrospect an abduction would have been simpler.

Closing his eyes, he pulled the girl's head close to his and pressed their foreheads together. The young woman's eyes widened at the sudden invasion of privacy."You see, my daring friend is quite distraught these days. Her grandfather is on the way out, so to speak, and she needs emotional support. I'm just giving her a shoulder to cry on."

Jameson nodded. "Lord Remathia is an incredibly compassionate man."

Eltana looked back to Ree and smiled. "So, why don't you go on your way? I'm sure you're a very busy woman, and we don't want to waste your time."

[Metarie]

Had he said anything else, Ree probably would have gone on her way. Instead, her brows furrowed in concern.

"I'm so sorry to hear he is unwell. I'm a doctor at the hospital. Has he been in? Medical care is free, you know."

She still hadn't taken her eyes off of the young woman, who had not spoken for herself as yet. Ree held out her hand to the young woman. "I was just going to do my shopping, but why don't I come see your grandfather?"

In her mind, Ree cataloged the name given - Lord Remathia. This was not a name with which she was familiar and as a member of Marn's aristocracy, Ree should have known the name. Granted, she did not mingle in the upper circles often, choosing to work or study instead of attend this or that dinner or soiree, so she could be mistaken.

Ree waited to see what the girl would do.

[Eltana Remathia]

Eltana could tell that this woman would be a problem. Sighing, he glanced at the apothecary-in-training and nodded for her to speak.

"My g-grandfather has been to the hospital, but they said there's not much that can be done for him now," the young woman said hastily, gripping the front of her dress to keep her hands from trembling. As much as she tried to hide her feelings, her terrified eyes betrayed her. "It's a terminal illness, ma'am. He's on a special medication to ease his pain..."

Eltana clicked his tongue as he ran a hand through her hair. "Such a sad state of affairs, isn't it? But that's life for you. All we can do for the poor man now is make his last days as comfortable as possible. So your, ahem... "medical expertise," while very much appreciated, is not needed. Now if you'll excuse us, my dear friend needs some time to grieve."

[Metarie]

Ree wanted to reach out to the girl, to offer her solace. If they'd already brought him to the hospital, they must have declined alternative measures of medical care. This was really the only problem Ree ever had with the teaching of the Tome. Magic did have its place when used properly.

"I see."

With misgiving, Ree knew she had no further reason to stay. Perhaps she could ask a guardsman to come by in a little while to check on the woman. Something seemed off, but without just cause...

The tone of voice used by the seated man was unpleasant, but not something she couldn't ignore. Ree worked with Guile Markus, who she knew did not care much for her. That man could smile nicely while cutting you down verbally.

"If I might be of help, do let me know. You can reach me at the hospital. I'm Doctor Sehkhara." Waiting long enough for the girl to nod her head, Ree finally decided to look at the young man and his companion.

The young man was surprisingly beautiful, almost feminine, until she realized he must be half Elf. The tell tale tips of his ears gave him away. The other was most definitely human and handsomely built, if she were inclined to think that way.

"You too, Lord Remathia. I know most of the nobles of Marn, but do not recognize your name. As a visitor, I hope you will not hesitate to visit the hospital should you need medical care." If there was a slight emphasis on the word "lord," one would have had to listen closely to hear it.

Placing her hand over her heart, she gave the slight bow most elves used in greeting or leave taking. "My apologies for interrupting." Her hair fell slightly to either side of her face, exposing her pointed ears. Giving one last look to the young woman, Ree began to move away.

[Eltana Remathia]

"Thank you, doctor -- I'll be certain to seek you out should the need arise. I'm sure that your skills as a doctor are unrivaled. Have a wonderful day."

That went much better than expected. Eltana had been prepared for the worst, but fortunately this woman was smart enough to know when her presence wasn't appreciated. His business would be so much easier if more people knew when to walk away.

Eltana continued running his fingers through her hair. "Now, then, where were we? Ah, yes -- the matter of our arrangement," he whispered in her ear. "I expect that I'll have the necessary materials by my next shipping date, mmm? Many important men and women are counting on you, my dear. If you were to fail them... why, I don't think they would take it well."

The girl couldn't control her shaking any longer. In a last, desperate act, she started to reach out to Ree as she left, but pulled her arm back when Jameson gave her a threatening look. "...I'll....I'll do it," she told Eltana softly, once again clutching her dress.

"That's a good girl!" Eltana exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "You're not nearly as stupid as you look. I could probably fix that by setting you up with a dress, by the way. Behave yourself and I may even give you a discount."

[Metarie]

Ree stopped in her tracks. Turning on her heel, it took only a few steps with her long legs to reach the trio once more.

"Really. This just won't do."

The girl's hands were still clenched in the fabric of her skirt. So, Ree reached out with both of hers and took them, tugging the girl up to stand.

"I can't accept that answer. I have to know who treated your grandfather and what the treatment courses were. Is he human? Did they state the disease he has?" Ree, unfortunately, had inherited her mother's panache for problem solving. "We will go visit him."

A myriad of medical questions were thrown out as she pulled on the girl. The question was, would the girl be able to go.

[Eltana Remathia]

His eyes narrowed as he watched them walk away. So, this ugly little tramp wanted to challenge him? If that's how she wanted it, he'd gladly oblige.

Eltana rose from the bench and followed after the women, his bodyguard staying close behind him. He should have known it was too good to be true. Someone concerned enough to approach them wouldn't simply walk away after seeing that girl's waterworks; and few doctors would abandon someone with a terminally ill relative, regardless of the excuse. Just his damn luck that this busybody would turn out to be a doctor! Finding another apothecary to manipulate wouldn't be easy, and he wasn't about to let this deal sink through.

Just as the girl started explaining her situation to Ree, Jameson grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back, covering her mouth as she started to scream. He smiled and put a finger to his lips, then moved his hand away. She glared up at him and tried to wrestle away, but he simply tightened his grip. "Behave yourself," he told her softly. "Don't want to attract an audience."

"Doctor Sehkhara," Eltana said playfully as he walked up to her, standing inches away from her face. "I thought you were smart enough to know when you're not wanted, but there isn't much brain beneath that ratty yarn on your head, is there? Let me put this in terms even you can understand: Being the kind and generous man that I am, I graciously agreed to assist this girl in return for a few little things. I won't be letting her go until I know that she'll honor our deal."

"I know the kind of people you sell to!" the woman snapped. "My grandfather wouldn't want me to -- "

"Ah, ah!" Eltana raised a hand to her, his eyes still fixed on Ree. "I am talking. Pearls before swine, my dear. Doctor, you may feel free to see her grandfather once we've completed our business. Until then, I think it would be in your best interest to return to your hospital and hand out lollipops to good little boys and girls, or whatever it is the experienced doctors have you do. Have I made myself clear?"

[Metarie]

In the course of a given day, the good doctor has been exposed to arteries gushing blood, birthing babies and their mothers, delirious people shouting obscenities, a rampaging troll, and an enraged drunken guardsman intent on raping her to name a few. Being unperterbed in the face of uncertain circumstance was usually the best course of action. Granted, she wasn't normally brimming with hormones. Irrational thoughts bubbled up about foreigners destroying the fabric of their society and this was the sort of thing that was wrong with the city today (people not following the proper channels or not realizing they could). Too, someone getting up in her face was annoying.

Tell-tale signs appeared, a slight flush to her cheeks, the tightening of pupils, but she didnt back down. In fact, this close would find her a full inch taller than the half-elf. Ree stood straighter and collected around her an aura of authority. Her eye brows lifted, "I see."

Her gaze dropped for a moment. When she looked up, she smiled professionally and said simply, "I think the young lady should attend me as I see her grandfather." Ree decided to try and keep the triohere for longer. The more she lingered, the more likely a guard patrol would pass by them.

[Eltana Remathia]

Back when he first decided to expand his business, Eltana often dined with prominent underground figures to build up a reputation and forge useful connections. One such individual was an old, grizzled criminal who loved to reminisce about the good old days when he could knife a man in the street for looking at him funny. The man proved to be a useful ally, but his rambling often tried Eltana's patience.

Now, though, Eltana was starting to feel the same way.

Eltana looked her over as he weighed his options. His assistant could easily rough her up, but he doubted that any amount of bishani could cover up the assault of a well-known doctor in broad daylight. And since he would certainly be frequently the hospital during his stay in Marn, harming one of its employees wouldn't be in his best interests. So as much as he'd love to see Jameson beat her to a pulp, he knew that option was off the table.

He giggled airily. “Quite the courageous little thing! But I shouldn't be surprised. After all, a doctor must always look out for the well-being others, no matter how insignificant she might be. But unfortunately, this leaves us at an impasse...”

Turning away from Ree, he pulled a purple silk fan from his robe and began waving it in front of his face. “As I've said before, I'm not leaving until I know our arrangement will be honored. Why, it would be simply irresponsible! I don't know how they run things down at your little hospital, but we in the fashion industry believe in something called professionalism -- big word, I know. What kind of businessman would I be if I just walked away?”

Grinning, he looked back at her from over his shoulder. “Perhaps we can make a little deal, mmm? I'll accompany you both to her grandfather's home, and you can kiss his boo-boo and tell yourself you've made a difference. Then you can return to your hospital and hand out band-aids, and I can get back to real work. How does that sound?”

[Metarie]

The girl's call out about the kind of people he sold to and her general demeanor had triggered Ree's suspicions fully. He wanted to get rid of Ree at first, but now, he would come with her. Ree wished fervently a guardsman would come by right now and preferably one who actually gave a damn.

Inwardly, Ree thought that if the man considered her ignorant, then she would play the fool. So, putting on a thoughtful expression, Ree considered the man's proposal seriously, hoping she could "think" about it as long as it took.

Slowly, Ree shook her head, in negation. "No," the word was drawn out slightly and couched in a way that sounded as if she were a tad uncertain. Pursing her lips, Ree then nodded her head as if thinking once more.

"I am certain your presence would actually impede the quality of the examination. Plus, I will need to stop by the Hospital to complete the appropriate forms and pickup a medical kit." Ree smiled beautifically, as all had been settled.

"You could wait at the hospital." She nodded and attempted to move away with the girl once more.

My kingdom for a hero, she thought. But, she supposed, those were few and far between, weren't they?